RSPB announces new President and Ambassadors
The RSPB has elected a new President and announced its first-ever Ambassadors at the charity’s 131st Annual General Meeting on Saturday 15th October.
Dr Amir Khan was elected to serve as President for a three-year term. Miranda Krestovnikoff steps down from the role to become a Vice-President, following nine years in the role.
Dr Khan is a familiar face to many, as the resident doctor on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, as well as a number of other television programmes, while inspiring his hundreds of thousands of social media followers with images and clips from his incredible wildlife garden.
Upon the announcement, Dr Khan said: “I’m honoured to have been invited to become the President of the RSPB, an organisation I’ve respected for many years. The UK is home to some of the most incredible species on Earth – from puffins to orcas, beavers and butterflies. But they’re in trouble. We are in a nature and climate emergency, but there is hope if we act now. And I believe that the RSPB is the organisation that's taking action for nature and helping others - us - take meaningful action too.”
Dr Khan has been a keen supporter of the RSPB, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic began. An NHS Doctor, living in Yorkshire, Dr Khan has been on the frontline of the pandemic for the past two years. Despite the huge pressures of his demanding job, Dr Khan frequently shares TV tips and posts on social media of the importance of caring for nature, whether that’s stocking his bird feeders - and importantly cleaning them - to feeding his resident hedgehogs and sharing the benefits of his garden’s flowers and plants for pollinators.
Dr Khan also regularly discusses the importance of nature for our mental and physical health. As a doctor, Amir is able to speak with expertise and authority on why access to nature and green spaces are beneficial to us, which became so apparent during the lockdowns.
Dr Khan added: “I want to make sure our nature reserves and the wider natural environment is a place everyone feels welcome. Inclusivity and making sure everyone benefits from the wellbeing effects of nature are key for me. I am keen to do my best to help encourage and inspire more and more people to take action for nature.”
In addition to a new President, the RSPB has revealed nine new Ambassadors to support the organisation’s mission in this vital decade, facing a nature and climate emergency. Alongside the new President, the Ambassadors will help inspire and enable more people to act for nature, utilising their passion and expertise to support the organisation’s cause, celebrate their achievements and help the RSPB in its mission to save nature.
The nine new Ambassadors are:
- Steve Brown – broadcaster (BBC Countryfile), Paralympian and public speaker
- David Domoney – horticulturist, broadcaster (ITV Love Your Garden) and author
- Indy Kiemel Greene – naturalist, conservationist and RSPB Youth Council member
- Lucy Hodson – naturalist, conservationist and social media influencer
- Deborah Meaden – entrepreneur and BBC Dragons’ Den investor
- Megan McCubbin – zoologist, author and wildlife TV presenter (BBC Springwatch)
- Ollie Olanipekun and Nadeem Perera – co-founders of birdwatching collective, Flock Together
- Samuel West – actor and director
All the Ambassadors have supported and championed the RSPB in the past, making important contributions, whether raising awareness of the nature and climate emergency, or helping connect more people to the nature around them. Our President and Ambassador roles are voluntary, unpaid roles for an initial three-year term.
Beccy Speight, RSPB Chief Executive said: “I’m delighted to welcome Dr Amir Khan as our new President, alongside our inspiring Ambassadors, to help support our mission to save nature in this critical decade - needed now more than ever. They are all incredible advocates for our natural world and on behalf of all our members, staff and volunteers across the RSPB, it will be an honour to collaborate, share ideas and together inspire more people to take action for nature.
“Alongside everyone at the RSPB, I would like to pass on my heartful thanks to Miranda Krestovnikoff for her passion and dedication to her Presidency term. Her commitment to the role has helped us reach more people and raise awareness of the threats nature faces and the kinds of solution available. I’m absolutely delighted that her support for our work will continue as a Vice-President.”
Reflecting on the past nine years, Miranda said: “It has been an incredible privilege to have been President of this organisation for the past 9 years. During that time there have been many changes and challenges; now, more than ever, charities like RSPB need support as they stand up strong in the fight for nature.
“I am delighted to be passing on the baton to Dr Amir Khan as the new RSPB President. He has a genuine love and passion for wildlife and an infectious enthusiasm, and I know he will bring in a new energy and hopefully reach a new audience at a time when nature needs all the help it can get.”
To find out more about the RSPB’s President and Ambassadors, visit rspb.org.uk/president-and-ambassadors
25 October 2022
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